A University graduate student fell from the roof of the Life Sciences building Monday morning and sustained serious injuries that led to his death.Sarvnipun Chawla, a 27-year-old graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was discovered in critical condition on the concrete in front of the west side of the building at about 10:30 a.m.A number of witnesses provided Chawla with first aid before emergency services rushed him to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital for further treatment, where he died at about 11:15 a.m., said Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSU Police Department spokesperson.LSUPD is still trying to determine why Chawla fell, Tabor said.”It was either a freak accident or he was trying to harm himself,” Tabor said.Chawla was still breathing and conscious when EMS arrived, Tabor said. LSUPD conducted an investigation on the roof following the event and found no evidence to suggest foul play or suicide.Tabor said detectives found Chawla’s personal items on the roof — his book bag, wallet, cell phone and shoes.”Every indication we have at this point shows he must have taken those things out before he fell,” Tabor said.Tabor said there are a number of reasons he could have put his possessions aside before he fell, but said they would only be speculation.Chancellor Michael Martin extended his condolences to Chawla’s family and friends in a broadcast e-mail and asked students keep him in their thoughts and prayers.”LSU Police and University officials are still investigating the circumstances,” he said. “Foul play is not suspected.”Kevin Carman, dean of the College of Basic Sciences, said he couldn’t think of a reason for Chawla to have been on the roof, which is usually locked.LSUPD did not find any witnesses who saw Chawla fall, but many students and University faculty saw him lying on the ground.”I didn’t see it, but I heard it,” said Brendan Soughen. “I heard it like a wet thud.”Joseph Bond, biological sciences and psychology senior, said he didn’t see the incident happen, but noticed Chawla’s body when he left the Life Sciences Building. Chawla wasn’t wearing shoes and seemed to have cut-up feet, Bond said.”When I saw he didn’t have shoes on, my first inclination was that he jumped,” Bond said. “I like to think the best, but that was sort of a red flag.”–Contact Adam Duvernay at [email protected]
University grad student falls off building, dies
March 15, 2010